
D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown leaves his office at the John A. Wilson Building after being charged Wednesday in federal court with one felony count of bank fraud. He resigned hours later. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

D.C Council member Mary Cheh (right), Ward 3 Democrat, will take over as council chairman with the resignation Wednesday evening of Kwame R. Brown. The council will meet next Wednesday to appoint one of the four at-large members as interim chairman. Mr. Brown was charged earlier in the day in federal court with one count of felony bank fraud involving a home-equity loan. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown leaves his office at the John A. Wilson Building after being charged Wednesday in federal court with one felony count of bank fraud. He resigned hours later. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

D.C Counci member and chairman pro tempore Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), right, council members Michael A. Brown (D-At Large), second from right, and newly elected Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5), left, leave a private meeting at the Wilson Building as Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown (D) is charged with one felony count of bank fraud and is expected to resign his from the council, Washington, D.C., Wednesday, June 6, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

D.C Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown (second from left) chats with council member Mary Cheh, Ward 3 Democrat, as other lawmakers arrive for a meeting at the John A. Wilson Building in Washington on Tuesday, June 5, 2012, to discuss and vote on the fiscal 2013 budget. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown holds up the new "Mr. McDuffie" nameplate for Kenyan McDuffie, the newest member of the D.C. Council who was sworn in Wednesday. With Mr. McDuffie are his wife, Princess, and daughter Jozi. "I know where we are today, but I also know how far we have to go," the new Ward 5 member said upon taking over for his convicted predecessor Harry Thomas Jr. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown holds up the new "Mr. McDuffie" nameplate for Kenyan McDuffie, the newest member of the D.C. Council who was sworn in Wednesday. With Mr. McDuffie are his wife, Princess, and daughter Jozi. "I know where we are today, but I also know how far we have to go," the new Ward 5 member said upon taking over for his convicted predecessor Harry Thomas Jr. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

Rep. E. Darrell Issa (right) greets D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray (left) and D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown on Capitol Hill earlier this month. Mr. Gray is seeking authority to set the city's budget year and spend local funds without Congress' prior OK. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)